Text 2 The Presidents of the United States

The United States has had over 40 Presidents, Grover Cleveland was elected as the 22nd and the 24th President. The State Department ruled that he must be counted twice. George Bush was the 41st President.

The first President, George Washington, was inau­gurated in 1789. He served two terms that ended in 1797. When he died he was mourned in the United States and abroad as one of the great men of the time. He was buried at his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Nine Presidents were elected for two terms. Franklin D. Roosevelt served three full terms. He was elected to a fourth term in 1944. He died in 1945, and his term was completed by Harry Truman.

The shortest term was served by William Henry Harrison who died one month after his inauguration in 1841. Four Presidents were killed while in office. The first of these was the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. He was shot while attending the theater in Washington. James Garfield was shot a few months af­ter his inauguration and died at the age of forty-nine. William McKinley was killed in Buffalo, New York in 1901. John Kennedy was killed in Texas in 1963.

James Buchanan was the only bachelor to be elected. He was assisted in the social activities of the White House by his niece.

One of the Presidents (Andrew Johnson) was a tailor before he became President. Three of the Presi­dents - Washington, Grant and Eisenhower were Gen­erals of the Army before they were elected.

The 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt was a Colonel in the Army before he was elected to serve as Vice-President during William McKinley's term of of­fice. When President McKinley was killed, Theodore Roosevelt became President. He became the youngest man to be called upon to fill presidency. He was forty-two years old. John Kennedy was the youngest person to be elected to the office. He was forty-three at the time he was chosen.

The State of Virginia is known as the “Presidents’ Slate”. Eight Presidents were born in Virginia and seven were born in Ohio. Some Presidents will be remembered by people as great men of their times.

be inaugurated - быть введенным в должность

inauguration - торжественное вве­дение в должность

bury - хоронить

while in office - за время пребывания в долж­ности

term of office - срок избрания

Task 1. Read the text and memorize the details.

Task 2. Answer the questions about the details.

1) How many presidents has the United States had?

a) over 50

b) over 40

c) over 25

2) Who was elected as the 22nd and the 24th president?

a) Theodore Roosevelt

b) John Kennedy

c) Grover Cleveland

3) When was the first president of the United States, George Washington, inaugurated?

a) in 1720

b) in 1800

c) in 1789

4) Where was the first president buried?

a) in California

b) in Massachusetts

c) in Virginia (Mount Vernon)

5) How many presidents were elected for two terms?

a) 15

b) 9

c) 10

6) How many full terms did Franklin Roosevelt serve?

a) 3

b) 2

c) 1

7) Franklin Roosevelt was elected to the fourth term in 1944. Who completed Roosevelt's fourth term when he died in 1945?

a) Harry Truman

b) Abraham Lincoln

c) Lindon Johnson

8) Whom was the shortest term served by?

a) William Harrison

b) Richard Nixon

c) Jimmy Carter

9) How many presidents were killed while in office? Who were they?

a) 7

b) 4

c) 5

10) Who was a tailor before he became a president?

a) Andrew Johnson

b) Ronald Reagan

c) R. Wilson

11) Who was the youngest president to be elected to the office?

a) John Kennedy

b) Richard Nixon

c) Jimmy Carter

12) What state is known as the President's State?

a) California

b) Virginia

c) Texas

Task 3. Say whether the statements given below are true (T) or false (F), express doubt or uncertainty. Make use of the reference list given above.

1. The United States has had 60 Presidents.

2. George Bush is the 41st President.

3. George Washington served 3 terms that ended in 1797.

4. George Washington was buried at his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

5. Franklin D. Roosevelt served four full terms.

6. The shortest term was served by William H. Harrison.

7. Five Presidents were killed while in office.

8. James Buchanan was the only bachelor to be elected.

9. Five Presidents were generals of the army be­fore they were elected.

10. John Kennedy was the youngest person to be elected to the office.

11. Some Presidents will be remembered by people as great men of their times.

Task 4. Answer the following questions.

1. What Presidents of the United States are well-known all over the world? Why?

2. What are the latest Presidents of the United States? What do you know about them?

3. Four Presidents were killed while in office. How can you account for it?

4. What do you know about Franklin D. Roosevelt who served the longest period of time?

5. What state is known as the “Presidents’ State”? Why?